The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights has expressed serious concern over the situation in Venezuela following a United States military operation, stating that governments must not use threats or force against the territorial integrity or political independence of any country.
On January 3, US forces carried out a military operation in Venezuela that resulted in the removal and capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who were subsequently transferred to New York to face charges related to drug trafficking and other criminal allegations.
In a statement, the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights said that the US action undermined fundamental principles of international law, including the prohibition on the use of force against the sovereignty and political independence of states.
The statement emphasized that accountability for human rights violations cannot be achieved through unilateral military intervention or breaches of international law.
The agency stressed that the future of Venezuela must be determined solely by the Venezuelan people, with full respect for their human rights, including the right to self‑determination and sovereignty over their natural resources.
The United States has defended its operation as a law‑enforcement action to address alleged criminal activity by Venezuelan leadership, but the intervention has drawn widespread international criticism and raised concerns about regional stability and adherence to international legal norms.
hz/sa
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